"The freedom of being nude in nature and in the elements brings one a child-like feeling." This is the guiding principle behind the Florida Young Naturists, a West Palm Beach-based network of young people who coordinate festivals and gatherings with the goal of promoting freedom and body acceptance across all races, religions, and sexual orientations.
The events take place in Florida, but you don't have to be a resident to attend -- you don't even have to get fully nude to revel in the pure, invigorating splendor that comes with dressing the way nature really intended.
That's why, even if the last time anyone saw you stripped down to your skivvies in a non-sexual situation was during your seventh grade physical, we're giving you 10 solid reasons why attending this weekend's fifth annual FYN Naked Spring Bash is a really great idea.
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10. Naked Harlem Shake
So what if this particular strain of internet virus has already run its course? The fact of that matter is nudity equals hits! And if you've ever had a chance at becoming even a shred of internet-famous, this is it.
On Saturday, April 12, at 1 p.m. Marianna Lavin of the Florida Young Naturists will be coordinating what's being sold as "the first ever Naked Harlem Shake" video. Participants are encouraged to bring their own "props" -- hula-hoops, glowing poi (those tethered weight things people swing around like they're at a rave), pool toys, giant bananas, whatever. Don't worry if your mom happens to come across the uncensored vid floating around in cyberspace -- at least you can say you were a part of history!
9. Fire Dancers
Speaking of swinging things around like you're at a rave, fire dancers are like the hotter, more badass version of every glow stick-twirling, hula-hoop-gyrating, high on life hippy-performer you've ever seen.
As the sun goes down, grab a fellow young naturist by hand, spread your blankets across the grass, lean back into the dewy warmth of the Florida night, and let your eyes go in and out of focus as you take in the primal body contortions and glowing infinity patterns of the expert fire spinners.
8. Pool, Hot Tub, Showers, and Sauna
Is this an outdoor nudist festival in Loxahatchee, or a weekend spa retreat at the Four Seasons? Apparently, a return to nature also comes with some pretty decent amenities. If the whole idea of being naked in nature (a.k.a. heat, humidity, mosquitos) for longer than five minutes without the assurance of a nearby shower was starting to make your skin crawl, fear not! At the Sunsport Gardens Family Nudist Resort, a pool, hot tub, showers, and sauna will be open until 2 a.m. nightly for free entries, and 24/7 for overnight guests. Let's go skinny dipping!
7. Live Music
What's a proper naturists gathering without the feel-good vibrations of live music? You may already be familiar with some of the mostly local and beloved jam bands scheduled to play for the weekend, but you've probably never seen them like this.
Free Like Me, the Funky Nuggets, Ancient Sun, Psychedelic Zoo, Awful Monsters, the Boundless, and DJs Adammo and Zeb will provide the tunes. While they jam in the nude, you'll naked dance, and everyone will have a funky good time.
6. Be in Nature
Apart from the whole being naked thing, how often do we really get to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life in the "city" and truly appreciate the natural world around us? Loxahatchee (also home to Lion Country Safari!) is a lush, tropical paradise of beautiful rivers, groves, and wildlife, and it's one of the most rural areas near West Palm Beach. As you remove each layer of clothing, let your mind also leave behind all the tribulations of city living and take in all the sensations of South Florida's great outdoors.
5. Community Day
The folks at the Florida Young Naturists really want to make sure everyone has a chance to experience what they've dedicated the last five years trying to share with the world. That's why, apart from providing weekend-long tickets plus overnight grounds stay for only $15 for first-timers and $25 returning visitors, they've also included a Community Day, when anyone is welcome to join in the fun for free.
On Friday, between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m., let it all hang out; take a ride down the Niagara 75-foot waterfall, get your body Naked DayGlo painted, cozy up around the drum circle bonfire, and enjoy the live tunage of the Funky Nuggets, all complimentary!
4. Naked Yoga
Don't want to sound like a perv, but this one's pretty self-explanatory. Actually, judging from pictures, it seems like most people opt to wear some sort of clothing while they're working it out on the mats, but with several classes scheduled throughout the weekend, everyone in attendance is sure to be super relaxed, limber, and tension free. Perfect for meeting new friends and greeting all with a blissed out, yoga-induced Buddha smile.
3. Free Camping
Grounds for camping are included with your ticket price. And while there is a FYN rule stating "No genitalia may touch anything," the only rule between consensual, tent-dwelling adults when the sun goes down is be respectful of your neighboring tent-dwellers in the night and don't make too much noise.
2. Florida YOUNG Naturists
The folks at the Florida Young Naturists have really figured it all out.
We know this thing is all about body image acceptance and being who you are, but if who you are is a 65-year old naked dude with a beer gut and a permanent hangover lurking behind some bushes, watching our young, bare breasts bounce in the sunshine, well, we'd be a lot less inclined to use this particular moment as a lesson in body acceptance.
We'd probably stay home.
Fortunately, to be a Florida Young Naturist means you have to be aged 18 to 30, although under 18 guests are welcome with a guardian and arranged ahead of time.
Florida Young Naturists NAKED Spring Bash 2012 from FYN on Vimeo.
1. Be Free
Why all the fuss about being naked, anyway? Can't we all just sing and hold hands with some clothes on and go about our lives as we normally do? What it really all boils down to is freedom.
The Naked Spring Bash is clothing optional, of course, but there is hardly a more liberating experience than abandoning all expectations and judgments, getting naked, and saying to one's self: This is my body, I am not ashamed of it. Be free, while also getting rid of some awful tan lines.
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